EFFECTIVENESS OF SEDATION AND ANESTHESIA IN CT DIAGNOSTICS

Abstract

CT diagnostics requires the patient to remain still during the imaging. For some patients, this is not possible without pharmacologically assisted sedation or even general anesthesia - primarily children and adolescents, adults disturbed by fear and pain, and those with neurological or cognitive disorders. Sedation (eng. procedural sedation) is a controlled pharmacological induction of depression of consciousness in order to facilitate the diagnostic procedure, whereby the patient mostly retains the basic reflexes of breathing and circulation. Sedation is categorized into degrees from minimal (anxiolysis) to deep sedation, which is a medical procedure by which drugs reduce the patient's consciousness to a state of deep sleep, where the patient reacts only to strong or painful stimuli., while general anesthesia implies complete unconsciousness and often the need to maintain the airways.

The safety of sedation is ensured by following the protocol: monitoring the highest possible level of consciousness and vital functions, readiness for intervention (secured venous access, oxygen, ventilation) and dosing from the minimum necessary level of sedation. Pediatric standards (AAP) require recording vital signs every 5 minutes in deep sedation and 10 minutes in moderate sedation, with mandatory equipment and personnel trained in resuscitation. After the procedure, the patient is monitored until the previous level of consciousness returns and parameters stabilize, and discharge is allowed only after satisfactory recovery (e.g. using the Altdret or similar score).